ncients, to wit,
_Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galen, &c._ which have little heat, and
acrimony, many whereof are temperate, and divers cooling, which may most
safely be given either in the hottest times and seasons of the yeare, or
in the hottest diseases. Let us adde to these the like familiar and
gentle purging medicines more lately, yea, almost daily newly found out
since the better discoveries of the East and West Indies. So that
henceforth let no man feare to take either easie purgatives, or other
inward Physicke, in the time of the canicular, or dog-dayes.

The same _Hollerius_ goeth on in the exposition and interpretation of
the said Aphorisme, and confidently saith: _Over & besides that we have
benigne medicines which we may then use, as Cassia, &c._ Wee know and
finde by experience no time here with us more wholsome and more
temperat (especially when the Etesian, or Easterly, winds do blow) then
the Canicular dayes: so that, wee finde by observation, that those
diseases which are bred in the moneths of June and July, doe end in
August, and in the Canicular dayes. Wherefore, if a disease happen in
those dayes, we feare not to open a veyne divers times, and often, as
also to prescribe more strong purging medicines.

Wherefore away henceforth with the scrupulous conceit, and too nice
feare of the Dogge-dayes, and let their supposed danger be had no more
in remembrance among us. And if any will yet remaine obstinate, and
still refuse to have their beames pulled out of their eyes, let them
still be blinde in the middest of the cleare Sun-shine, and groape on
after darkness; and let all learned Physitians rather pitty their
follies, then envy their wits.

_CHAP_. 13.

_=At what time of the yeare, and at what houre of the day it is most fit
and meet to drinke this water.=_

To speake in generall tearmes, it is a fit time to drinke it, when the
ayre is pure, cleare, hot and dry: for then the water is more tart, and
more easily digested, then at other times. On the contrary, it is best
to forbeare, when the ayre is cold, moist, darke, dull and misty: for
then it is more feeble, and harder to be concocted.

But more specially, the most proper season to undertake this our English
Spaw dyet, will be from the middest or latter end of June to the middle
of September, or longer, according as the season of the yeare shall fall
out to be hot and dry, or otherwise.

Not that in the Spring-time, and in Winter it is